Sparks fly like snowflakes when a klutzy but gorgeous novice crosses skis with a hot resort owner in this tempting tie-in to New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby’s popular Love Under the Big Sky series!

Grace Douglas is on a practice run for her friend Cara Donovan’s bachelorette party ski weekend in Aspen. The problem is, despite living in rugged and picturesque Cunningham Falls, Montana, Grace is the clumsiest person ever born. To prepare for the trip, she is taking lessons at a local ski resort. She just prays that they have an ambulance on standby.

Sexy hotelier Jacob Berkley is ready to play ski instructor, but he quickly discovers that the best place on the mountain for Grace is in the lodge with a hot toddy. Her sense of humor and easy laugh quickly pull him in, and soon he’s determined to help her get off the bunny slope for a fun vacation with her friends. He just didn’t expect their steamy chemistry to trigger an avalanche of desire straight to his heart.

Wow, just wow. And not in a good way. This novella completely did not work for me, from the idea of sending a constantly clumsy person skiing, without any of her so-called friends even going along to make sure she was okay, to the clichéd dialogue, the cringe-worthy sex scenes and the awful jokes… Yeah, this book was not what I was expecting.

I didn’t have too much of a problem with Grace, other than her annoying jokes about Bax’s accent, which were more embarrassing than funny. Her klutziness was kind of endearing at first, but then it conveniently vanishes until the end when it can prove useful again. The only thing I really didn’t like about her is her insistence on calling Bax by his first name, Jacob. I don’t think it’s up to her to dictate his preferred name. It’s a very small thing, but it irritated me.

Not half as much as Bax’s habit of saying “darling” in pretty much every sentence – unless he’s calling Grace “love”. He’s British, yes, I get it, but the overabundance of darlings instantly made me think of theatre luvvies (oh, daahling! How are you?) or a generic London cabbie (awight, darlin’?). Neither of which fitted Bax too well. Oh, and then there’s his completely superfluous and utterly ridiculous knighthood.

(Excuse me while I rant…)

Firstly, he would never be called Sir Baxter. His first name is Jacob, therefore he’d be Sir Jacob Baxter, or just Sir Jacob. Secondly, a knighthood is granted for non-military service to the crown/country, such as philanthropy or in the arts or sport or something inspiring, great or money-orientated. So what spectacular thing did this useless playboy do? Nothing worth mentioning, apparently. If his honorific Sir is supposed to be inherited then it would be a baronetcy, which is not the same thing as he would know, and he also can’t have inherited because his father is still alive. So not only was it a stupid thing it was also completely incorrect. Just thought I’d flag that up there.

(Okay, rant over, you can come back now.)

As for the romance. Meh. It’s a quick thing formed of instalove and not much else. However, the sex scenes are hilarious – for all the wrong reasons. Most of the things he says to Grace made me cringe. The constant references to her flushing just sounded wrong. As for Grace… yeah, she has her moments too. I don’t think I was supposed to be laughing throughout, but it did at least give me something to enjoy.

So, yeah, this book and I did not get on. Luckily it was short, which is about the only thing I can say in its favour. I’m just glad this wasn’t my first Kristen Proby book, because it would definitely have been my last. I guess I’ll just gloss over this one and hope for better next time.

Saving Grace is out November 30th.
Visit Kristen Proby for more details.